An international flight with an electric aircraft will depart from Maastricht Aachen Airport (MAA) to Liège and Aachen from today. This is a two-month trial over a distance of 30 to 50 kilometres.
The trial is part of Electrifly, a collaboration between ASL Group, NIO, Fachhochschule Aachen and MAA. Together, the parties are exploring opportunities around fully electric and emission-free flying. The parties are also exploring the role of regional airports in future mobility concepts.
Challenges of electric flying
Among other things, the project should provide insight into challenges surrounding cross-border flying with an all-electric aircraft. These include laws and regulations, but also dealing with air traffic control as well as infrastructure and procedures at airports.
Electrifly uses a Pipistrel Vesil Electro. This is the only electric aircraft certified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). EASA certified the aircraft in June 2020, issuing its first type certification for an all-electric aircraft. In addition to the pilot, the Pipistrel has room for only one passenger. ASL Flight Academy and FH Aachen are making the aircraft available.
Door-to-door electric travel
If desired, customers can take their entire journey electric. When booking a flight - which is possible via the Electrifly app - they can choose door-to-door transport, with China's NIO providing electric transport on the ground. In this case, however, the pick-up and delivery location must be within a number of predefined areas, which in all cases are no more than 15 kilometres from the airport.
Booking a flight is only possible via an Android or iOS application. Flights and rides are based on the EASA cost-sharing principle, where the pilot and passenger share the costs. More information on the booking process is available here.
Preview of the future of eAviation
ASL Group, NIO, Fachhochschule Aachen and MAA call Electrifly a "preview of the future of eAviation, where passengers can be transported emission-free between regional airports and international hubs in Europe".
"Electrifly gives an insight into the future of aviation. It is also an invitation to all parties who want to explore the future of eAviation with us here. It is a huge step forward in realising our mission to enable emission-free flights for passengers. By participating in this project, we open the door for sustainable connections between regional airports and collaborations with mobility and aviation partners who share the same goals of emission-free transport. Anyone pursuing that goal is most welcome at our airport," said Jonas van Stekelenburg, CEO of MAA.
"Electrifly is a great result of the cooperation between the various Euregional parties. It underlines our belief that MAA is the perfect location to further facilitate the development of eAviation." The trial runs from 1 July to 31 August.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Image: MAA / www.electrifly.store
